Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-18
ghe eahia Daily gayle Sunday n1nrnna, 1a
TAXES TELL THE TALE.
Eight Representative Cities Of Ran
sas All in > Row.
Wichita With Less Than nalf the Taxes
and No Improvement Bonds, No Gas,
Street. Water. or RefGnding Bonds.
and No Floating Debt

stood by nonresident capitalists and
money loaners than that Sedgwick coun-
ty and the chief city Of the state, Wich-
ita, have for years assessed the lowest
taxes Of any municipalities in Kansas,
probably lower than any county or city
Of importance to he found in the west.
If the annual reiteration Of that fact, by
this journal. had been lost sight of or
gone unnoticed. the knowledge that the
few bonds of either to be found in the
markets have always been quoted at a
premium, would have proved a sufficient
guaranty OF the verify. The only city
bonds now outstanding are held in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and last month
were quoted at a premium of twelve per
cent. No school house bond even of this
city has been sold except at round
premium.
An assertion made some time since by
the EAGLE that the total tax Of this city
was less than one-half that of any other
city in the state Of Kansas being seriously
questioned, tables were prepared some
two weeks since in which the taxes for
1875 of eight representative counties
and cities, including Sedgwick county
and Wichita were published as from
official sources. These tables were pre-
pared by a clerk in the county treasT-
er's Office in response to request OF the
editor of this paper. The tables were
made up from receipts issued by the
treasures of the counties named. In
the case Of LeavenwOrth the treasurer
issued two receipts both very cOmpli-
Gated. and iii the case of Reno county
the state and county tax are regularly
given in one clause. and in the table
covering the items Tor the city of Hutch
inaon the state and county tax amount
ing to $40 are again included. This
misled the compiler. Tie tables were
otherwise correct. There was no in
teGtion to misiead. as there was no
necessity with the taxes of Wichita and
Scdgwick county not more than one
half that Of the lowest There was an
other difficulty encountered. Few
Of the tax receipts issued by
the counties Of the state show
To- what school district the
county -.at l.oinne-. Whil. IA"
grand -hnuin. n,a4e %, this civ "-a-
u"' at.r'cd =, the" -Ij@d ","r-;"hr-.
the tig7lrcs wee open 10 criticism in the
two instances named.
However, the central verify, the grand
fact that the greatest. most populous
and rapidly growing city in the state
has the lowest assessments ana the low
est taxes by ono-half OF any CITY in tie
state, stands and 40 mistakes or criti-
cism can alter the truth of that assertion.
The personal property Of this city and
county is a-se ed at from twenty-five to
twenty-seven per cent OF it, true value,
the real estate nvith permanent improve
ment thereon Il ana7eraGc Of less than
Twenty-Five ger cent. while unimrroved
land and vacant lots are rot returned
for more than twenty Der cent. IN many
Instances at much less rate. There are
properties in this city whose
assessed valuation i less than tle annual
rental of The properties. \ thorough
critical ana intelligent examination Of
official records and tax receipts show be-